(NSF) — A bill that would allow many businesses to decide whether to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of new hires is heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis has made a priority of cracking down on the hiring of undocumented immigrant workers, promising during his 2018 campaign that he would sign a bill that would …
Bill Seeks to Add ‘Teeth’ to Environmental Laws
(NSF) — An increase in fines for environmental lawbreakers, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, is heading to his desk. The House voted 115-0 on Thursday to give final approval to a proposal (HB 1091) that would make numerous changes in the amounts and duration of penalties for violating Florida environmental laws. The Senate also unanimously backed the bill earlier …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2020 Year-to-Date
(SFWMD) — Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. There has been no back-pumping into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades Agricultural Area this year. Source: South Florida Water Management District Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role …
Florida Ag Land Conservation Easement Signup Deadline Extended
The deadline for applications to fund agricultural easements in Florida for 2020 has been extended to April 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. …
House Balks at E-Verify ‘Compromise’
(NSF) — As the 2020 legislative session draws to a close, the House and Senate are in a standoff over a politically charged immigration proposal that is a top priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. House Republicans on Tuesday refused to back a Senate measure that would have given the Republican governor’s administration the power to randomly audit private businesses to …
Florida Cattlemen’s Traceability Pilot Project
A topic that has been discussed among cattle producers for quite some time is animal traceability. And it’s an issue the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) knew needed some attention on a state-wide basis. So FCA Past President, Ken Griner from Chiefland, Florida, talked with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman about a pilot project they have underway. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember …
Bill Targeting Undocumented Workers Clears Senate
(NSF) — A politically charged bill that would give Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration the power to randomly audit private businesses to ensure they are not hiring undocumented workers is heading to the Florida House, where it will face a hesitant speaker. The Senate voted 22-18 on Monday to approve the proposal (SB 664), which was negotiated with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ …
Budget Causing Extension of Florida Legislative Session
We’ve been telling you the 2020 Florida Legislative Session is scheduled to end March 13th. But this last week it was evident that isn’t going to happen, as Legislators will need extra time to hammer out the state budget for next fiscal year. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains. The some $1.5 billion gap between the proposed …
Florida Forever to Get $100 Million
(NSF) — Florida Forever, the state’s signature land-preservation program, will get a sizable, one-time boost in funding as lawmakers inched closer Sunday to patching together an estimated $92 billion budget for next fiscal year. House and Senate negotiators also agreed to keep alive an economic development fund backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis but cut spending on the program. The $100 …
Oliva: Senate E-Verify Plan Un-American
(NSF) — House Speaker José Oliva on Saturday blasted a plan that would give Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration the power to randomly audit private businesses to ensure they are not hiring undocumented workers. DeSantis and the Senate have settled on a proposal that would give his administration the authority to audit Florida employers to ensure they are verifying workers’ legal …